LAW OF GEORGIA ON THE SYSTEM OF PROTECTED AREAS The formation of the system of protected areas in Georgia serves the preservation of original natural and cultural environment and its individual components for future generations, and the ensuring of conditions for the mental and physical health of humans and the creation of one of the main bases for the civilised development of society. In Georgia, protected areas are established for protecting and restoring significant national heritage - unique, rare and distinctive ecosystems, plant and animal species, natural formations and cultural areas, and for ensuring their use for scientific, educational and recreational purposes and for the purposes of developing a saving economy for natural resources. Article 1 - Goals of the system of protected areas The planning of the system of protected areas in the territory of Georgia, the selection of categories of protected areas and the establishment and functioning of each protected area have the following goals: a) the guaranteed long-term protection of the bio-geographic units of Georgia to ensure the continuous development of natural processes; b) the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, landscapes and living organisms; c) the protection of the genetic pool of endangered wild animals and plants included in the Red List of Georgia, and the preservation of biological diversity; d) the preservation of unique and rare organic and inorganic natural formations; e) protection against human-induced impacts on territories within active zones of erosion, mudflows, floods, torrents, avalanches, landslides, as well as areas of surface and ground water formation, drainage and discharge; f) the preservation and restoration of sceneries characteristic of historical and cultural landscapes and architectural and archaeological complexes; g) the creation of appropriate field conditions in areas of invaluable and irreplaceable objects in order to carry out educational and scientific research; h) the ensuring of favourable conditions in the natural, historical and cultural environment for recreation, health care and tourism purposes; i) the facilitation of the protection, restoration and development of traditional economic activities and folk arts in order to preserve the original historical and cultural environment; j) the promotion of the saving economy of areas used for agricultural, industrial, transport and energy purposes, and of natural resources. Law of Georgia No 2368 of 6 June 2003 - LHG I, No 19, 1.7.2003, Art. 128 Article 11 - Definition of terms The terms used herein have the following meanings for the puroposes of this Law: a) human-induced impact - a foreseen or unforeseen transforming impact on the living environment by humans and society, which mostly results in ecological disruption and the unrecoverable destruction of natural resources; b) managed reserve - corresponds to Category IV of protected areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Habitat/Species Management Area; c) bio-geographic units - zoning units according to landscapes, flora and fauna; d) biome - a bio-geographic zoning unit; e) natural monument - corresponds to Category III of protected areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Natural Monument; f) characteristic scenery - the visual appearance of the types of natural, historical and cultural landscapes of various regions; g) protected landscape - corresponds to Category V of protected areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Protected Landscape; h) protected area - a land territory and/or a water area of special importance for preserving biological diversity, natural resources and cultural phenomena integrated into the natural environment, which is protected and managed on a long-term and sound legal basis; i) International Network of Protected Areas - networks of protected areas having the status of protection, and the observation of, and care and financial support for, biosphere reserves, world heritage sites and high humidity areas; j) system of protected areas - a network formed of protected areas of different categories, which functions and is managed as a unified system of nature conservation and sustainable development; http://www.matsne.gov.ge 360.050.000.05.001.000.127 k) demarcation - the determination of accurate coordinates of the perimeter of the boundaries of protected areas for the purposes of this Law, during which the boundary is determined on site, including when the property of natural and legal persons and infrastructure objects atypical for a protected area are recorded in order to exclude them from the boundaries of protected areas and to register adjusted boundaries in the Public Registry; l) national park - corresponds to Category II of protected areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - National Park; m) visitor - a person, other than the personnel of the administration of a protected area, granted access to this area in accordance with procedures established by law; n) original natural and cultural environment - diverse, intact and little modified natural environment and historical and cultural environment formed and merged together as a result of centuries-long development, which is distinguished by ecological balance, high aesthetic value and rational economic use; o) historical and cultural landscape - a human-made landscape materially reflecting a long-lasting historical process or any of its periods, which is distinguished by ethical, aesthetic and other cultural values; p) manipulations - active actions and activities performed for the purposes of scientific research and maintenance, in particular, the extraction of natural materials, the establishment of laboratories and testing stations, the introduction, reintroduction and translocation of animal species, and sanitary and other measures for forest maintenance and restoration, etc.; q) management plan - an integrated document oriented towards feasible measures intended to provide functional and planning organisation and the economic planning of a protected area; r) multi-purpose use area - corresponds to Category VI of protected areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Managed Resource Protected Area; s) state reserve - corresponds to Category I of protected areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Strict Nature Reserve/Wilderness Area; t) territorial planning - the territorial planning of the country using various territorial ranks and different detalisations: based on spatial territorial plans - throughout the territory of the country; based on planning schemes and designs of self-governing units - at a regional level; based on general schemes and management plans - in the territories and zones of special importance; based on land use general plans - in settlements and groups of settlements, etc.; u) harmonic landscape - a landscape where natural and man-made components and elements are functionally balanced and aesthetically merged. Law of Georgia No 2307 of 30 April 2014 - website, 13.5.2014 Article 2 - Legislation on protected areas 1. The legislation on protected areas is based on the provisions of the Constitution of Georgia and includes this Law and other legal acts adopted in accordance with this Law. 2. Relations arising from the use of land, forest, water and natural resources of protected areas, as well as historical and cultural monuments, shall be regulated by the respective legislation of Georgia. 3. Property relations in the field of the use and protection of protected areas shall be regulated by civil legislation. Article 3 - Categories of protected areas 1. The categories of protected areas are: a state reserve, a national park, a natural monument, a managed reserve, a protected landscape and a multi- purpose use area. 2. The following categories included in the International Network of Protected Areas may exist in Georgia: a biosphere reserve, a world heritage site, and a high humidity area of international importance. Article 4 - State reserve 1. A state reserve may be created for the purposes of preserving the dynamic and intact condition of nature, natural processes and genetic resources and for the purposes of carrying out scientific research, educational activities and environmental monitoring, which activities have an insignificant impact on nature, natural processes and genetic resources. 2. A state reserve shall be created on state-owned land and/or water areas, the size and state of which ensure the preservation of natural objects and natural processes without special care and restoration by humans. 3. A state reserve may be part of any protected area (a biosphere reserve, a world heritage site, a high humidity area of international importance) and/or include another protected area (natural monument). http://www.matsne.gov.ge 360.050.000.05.001.000.127 Article 5 - National park 1. A national park shall be created to protect relatively large ecosystems distinguished by natural beauty and having national and international importance, and to preserve the living environment and to carry out scientific research and educational and recreational activities. 2. A national park may be created on a relatively large natural land territory and/or water area, where one or several undamaged or little damaged unique, rare or endangered ecosystem(s), biocoenosis and endangered wild animal and plant species included in the Red List of Georgia